The Development of the Human Female Reproductive Tract. Part 1: Uterine Tube and Uterus.

ABSTRACT: The uterine tubes and uterus develop from the paramesonephric (Müllerian) ducts. Most experimental data are obtained in rodents. Since the (micro-)anatomy of the murine urogenital tract differs from that in humans, evaluation of the translatability of mouse data to human development is relevant. We studied the Müllerian ducts in serially sectioned female human embryos and fetuses between 5 and 15 weeks of development and prepared 3D-reconstructions to establish topographic relations. At 5 weeks of development, the dorsocranial peritoneal epithelium thickens locally to form a placode-like structure, which remodels into the tubal orifice at 6 weeks. The subsequent caudal extension of the Müllerian ducts requires its temporary stay with the mesonephric (Wolffian) duct inside a common basement

SUBMITTER: Hulsman CJM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12747624 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature